Hit: DT Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)

Howard Smith-USA TODAY SportsDonald has hounded quarterbacks throughout his career.

The Pittsburgh Panthers may be 6-6, but that doesn’t discredit the kind of season Aaron Donald has put together for the team.

Through 12 games, the senior has recorded 54 tackles (26.5 for loss), 10 sacks and 16 quarterback hurries, forced four fumbles and blocked a punt. Furthermore, he ranks No. 1 in the nation in tackles for loss, No. 8 in fumbles forced and No. 13 in sacks.

Miss: QB Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois)

The senior dominated opponents with his legs, rushing for an incredible 1,881 yards and 22 touchdowns on 274 carries. Furthermore, he broke the FBS single-game rushing record for a quarterback not once, but twice.

But AP First Team All-American as an all-purpose player? That’s a joke.

Given that Montgomery and Beckham have both changed the outcomes of games with their versatility, it’s a shame to see those two passed up in favor of a quarterback—one who struggles throwing the ball, no less.

Lynch is certainly deserving of a spot on the list, but the first team is a bit of a stretch.

Hit: First- and Second-Team Running Backs

Darren McCollester/Getty ImagesWilliams (left) has been the top of a dominant RB class.

Could 2013 be the year of the running back?

All four of the AP’s selections for first and second team in the backfield could just as easily have been considered for the first team.

Andre Williams (329 carries, 2,102 yards, 17 touchdowns) and Ka’Deem Carey (322 carries, 1,716 yards, 17 TDs) were both shoo-ins for the first team. The former led the nation in rushing and helped Boston College record seven wins a year after winning just two, while the latter finished second and helped Arizona record an impressive upset of Oregon in Week 14.

After a slow start, Mason turned his season around and was an integral part of Auburn’s run to the BCS title game. Meanwhile, Sankey helped Washington continue its upward momentum and put up numbers no matter what defense he faced.

It’s an impressive list that will leave many deserving running backs feeling snubbed, such as Todd Gurley, Carlos Hyde, Marion Grice and Tyler Gaffney among others.

Hit: Excluding DE Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina)

Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesHas Clowney lived up to the hype?

Believe it or not, the AP got it right by excluding defensive end Jadeveon Clowney from its list.

The junior finished 2013 with 35 tackles (10.5 for loss), 3.0 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and one fumble forced. That pales in comparison to his numbers from last season: 54 tackles (23.5 for loss), 13 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Furthermore, Clowney has been outperformed by several of his teammates. He ranks 10th on the Gamecocks in tackles while finishing second in sacks and tackles for loss.

Whether it’s fair or not, the Rock Hill, S.C., native has been held to the standards of his 2012 season.

Given the hype and overall disappointment of his 2013 campaign, the AP made the right decision to leave Clowney off the list.